Video Lesson #2: Holes to heaven

In today´s lesson we are going to listen to a beautiful song from the Hawaiian musician and songwriter Jack Johnson.

As the author explained in 2012, it´s about a surf trip that he took with his father to some Indian islands. It talks about travelling, meeting different people and different cultures and feeling, in a way, like in heaven.

To follow this lesson:

1- Download the work sheet, and go to page 1 where you will find the song lyrics with some missing words (gaps).

2- Click the video and listen to the song while you try to fill the gaps with the words that you hear. I recommend listening to the song at least twice.

3- Check your results going to page 2 where you will find the whole lyrics of the song.

4- Take a look at the vocabulary below to understand every word of the song.

5- Listen to the song again, without reading the lyrics and try to understand most of it.

WORK SHEET: Holes to heaven work sheet

VOCABULARY

 

To spit: to force out the contents of the mouth, especially saliva. In this song it is used figuratively as the cars spit diesel fumes by their tailpipe.

Mean: frightening and likely to become violent. It can be used as to describe a person or, in this case, an animal.

To be stuck: to be unable to move, or set in a particular position, place or way of thinking.

To stare: to look for a long time with the eyes wide open, especially when surprised, frightened or thinking.

To disembark: to leave a ship, aircraft, etc. after a journey.

To run smooth (To run smoothly): to work well.

To drown: to cover or be covered, especially with liquid. Here it´s used figuratively to explain how officials were seduced by the travelers´ sweet talk.

Sweet talk: a way of talking to someone in a pleasing or funny way in order to persuade them to do or believe something.

To bribe: to try to make someone do something for you by giving them money, presents, or something else that they want.

Booze: an informal way to refer to alcohol.